Cover for Medical Inhaler

ABSTRACT

A cover for a medical inhaler, including a substantially tubular portion formed of flexible insulating material and including first and second openings at respective ends of the tubular portion, wherein the tubular portion is sized and shaped to receive a medical inhaler inserted through either the first or second openings of the tubular portion. A method for manufacturing a cover for a medical inhaler is also disclosed.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to medical inhalers. In a particular form the present invention relates to a cover for a medical inhaler. BACKGROUND

Medical inhalers are portable devices which are able to deliver medication in predetermined doses through manual application. The medication may be in the form of an aerosol in powder and/or liquid form. Typically a medical inhaler includes a generally cylindrical shaped housing which may be gripped by a recipient having an opening at one end to receive a canister containing the medication and a mouthpiece extending outwardly from the opposite end of the housing. In operation, the recipient places the mouthpiece of the device to their mouth and while gripping the housing of the inhaler depresses the canister downwardly causing the canister to dispense a metered dose of the medication in aerosol form under pressure which the recipient then breathes in.

A common form of inhaler is an asthma inhaler where the canister contains a medication for the treatment of asthma symptoms which functions to reduce the inflammation of the lungs associated with an asthma attack. A typical canister can deliver up to 200 doses of medication where each dose is of the order of 100 micrograms. For severe asthma sufferers, the effect of not being able to dispense their asthma medication may be life threatening in the event of an asthma attack. Often children are particularly at risk from these types of severe attacks and as a consequence asthma sufferers are taught at an early age to carry their medical inhaler around with them at all times.

As children are often sensitive to the opinion of their peers it is desirable that any carrying means or cover be visually appealing as well as functional so as to encourage a child to carry the inhaler. In the event of an emergency medical episode such as a severe asthma attack it is also desirable that any cover or carrying means for a medical inhaler does not unduly affect the ability for a recipient to quickly access and apply the inhaler to dispense the medication or where appropriate replace an empty canister. In addition, as the canister contains a medically active component/constituent it is also desirable that the carrying means or cover where possible limit large temperature fluctuations to the canister.

SUMMARY

In one aspect there is provided a cover for a medical inhaler, the medical inhaler having a removable canister and a mouthpiece, the cover comprising a substantially tubular portion formed of flexible insulating material and including first and second openings at respective ends of the tubular portion, wherein the tubular portion is sized and shaped to receive the medical inhaler inserted through either the first or second openings of the tubular portion.

In another form, the tubular portion is formed of a unitary piece of the flexible insulating material.

In another form, the first opening is sized and shaped to allow the canister to be removably inserted into the medical inhaler.

In another form, the second opening is angled to conform to the orientation of the mouthpiece of the medical inhaler.

In another form, the second opening is sized and shaped to allow a lid be to removably placed on the mouthpiece of the medical inhaler.

In another form, the first and/or second openings include an elasticized collar portion.

In another form, the cover includes an attachment arrangement for external attachment of the cover.

In another form, the attachment arrangement is a loop tag adapted to provide a suitable attachment point for a key ring, lanyard, belt loop or the like.

In a further aspect there is provided a method for manufacturing a cover for a medical inhaler comprising:

-   -   forming a unitary piece of flexible insulating material, the         unitary piece having a top edge portion and a bottom cut out         portion, the unitary piece further including respective side         edge portions; and     -   joining the unitary piece of flexible insulating material along         the respective side edge portions to form a substantially         tubular portion, wherein the top edge portion corresponds to a         first opening of the cover and the bottom cut out portion         corresponds to a second opening of the cover, wherein the         tubular portion is sized and shaped to receive the medical         inhaler inserted through either the first or second openings of         the tubular portion.

In another form, the respective side edge portions are arranged substantially symmetrical to each other about a mid line extending from the top edge portion to the bottom cut out portion.

In another form, the top edge portion and the bottom cut out portion includes an elasticized portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An illustrative embodiment of the present invention will be discussed with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a cover for a medical inhaler in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an underside perspective view of the cover illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the cover illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the cover illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the cover illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a first end view of the cover illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a second end view of the cover illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a unitary piece of material used to fabricate the cover illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of the cover illustrated in FIG. 1 depicted in an in use configuration with a medical inhaler; and

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing a cover for a medical inhaler in accordance with a further illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 7, there are shown various views of a cover 100 for a medical inhaler according to an illustrative embodiment. In this embodiment, cover 100 includes a substantially tubular portion 110 formed of a flexible insulating material which in this illustrative embodiment is formed from a synthetic rubber such as Neoprene™. As would be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art a variety of different flexible insulating materials may be used including but not limited to natural rubber, Spandex™, Lycra™ or composites of these or other suitable materials.

In this embodiment, the flexible insulating material has a thickness of 5 mm but depending on environmental requirements and the type of material with its associated resiliency and insulating characteristics, the thickness may range from 0.2 mm to 10 mm. These flexible materials may be sourced in many different colours and their association with surfing and diving culture enhances their appeal to younger users of medical inhalers. These materials may also be readily screen printed with attractive designs or logos, thereby allowing younger (or older) users of these devices to select or personalise their cover according to their own taste.

Referring now also to FIG. 9, the tubular portion or body 110 includes a first opening 120 from which extends the canister 220 of the medical inhaler 200 and a second opening 130 which in this illustrative embodiment is angled to conform to the orientation of the mouthpiece 230 of the medical inhaler 200 and further to allow the cap (not shown) of the medical inhaler 200 to be removably placed on the mouthpiece 230. The tubular portion 110 and openings 120, 130 of the cover 100 are sized and shaped to receive the medical inhaler 200 which can be simply inserted through either of the openings 120, 130 in the appropriate orientation and manipulated until cover 100 is in place as illustrated in FIG. 9.

Once cover 100 is in place the first opening 120 allows the canister to be easily removed should this be required. Due to the resilience of the flexible insulating material, cover 100 provides a tight or snug fit between tubular portion 110 and the body 210 of medical inhaler 200. In this illustrative embodiment, each of the openings 120, 130 further includes resilient collar portions 125, 135 which function to prevent movement of the medical inhaler 200 once the cover has been put on. In addition, collar portions 125, 135 further trap or confine an insulating layer of air between the body 210 of medical inhaler 200 and tubular portion 110 of cover 100.

Cover 100 further includes an attachment arrangement for external attachment of the cover which in this embodiment is a loop tag 140 which is attached to tubular portion 110 and provides a convenient attachment point for key rings, lanyards, belt loops and the like. As would be appreciated by those of skill in the art, other attachment arrangements are contemplated to be within the scope of the invention including attachment regions such as Velcro™ or the like which attach to a corresponding attachment portion which may be located in a handbag or on an item of worn clothing. Similarly, various hooking arrangement, clips or press release attachments may be employed.

Referring now to FIG. 10, there is shown a flowchart of a method 400 for manufacturing a cover for a medical inhaler according to a further illustrative embodiment. At step 410, and referring to FIG. 8, a unitary piece of flexible insulating material 160 such as has been described above is formed having a top edge portion 161 and a bottom cut out portion 162 and respective side edge portions 163, 164 which in this illustrative embodiment are arranged substantially symmetrical to each other with respect to mid line 300 that extends from the top edge portion 161 to bottom cut out portion 162. In this illustrative embodiment, top edge portion 161 and bottom cut out portion 162 further include elasticised portions.

At step 420, the unitary piece of flexible insulating material is joined along the respective side edge portions 163, 164 to form a cover 100 such as depicted in FIGS. 1 to 7 having a tubular portion 110, where the top edge portion 161 of the material 160 corresponds to the first opening 120 of the cover 100 and the bottom cut out portion 162 corresponds to the second opening 130. In this manner, tubular portion 110 is sized and shaped to receive a medical inhaler inserted through either the first or second openings 120, 130. Elasticised portions of top edge portion 161 and cut out portion 162 then correspond to collar portions 125, 135 of openings 120, 130.

In this illustrative embodiment, edges 163, 164 are first joined together using an appropriate adhesive which is then overlaid by reinforcing stitching in a similar manner to that employed for the fabrication of wetsuits. As would be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, other suitable joining or attachment arrangements may be used as appropriate. Loop tag 150 is then stitched to the end of the seam 150.

Cover 100 provides a number of advantages over the prior art including the ease of applying the cover 100 to a medical inhaler 200 by inserting the medical inhaler through one of the openings of the cover 100. As the cover 100 fits tightly and snugly to medical inhaler 200 there is little risk that they will become separated. Furthermore, the tightness of the fit, the conforming shape of the cover 100 and the insulating nature of the flexible material reduces the sensitivity of the medical inhaler to temperature fluctuations which may adversely affect the contents of the inhaler depending on its constituents.

As has been described previously, cover 100 may be easily fabricated from a unitary piece of material which provides cost saving in its manufacture. Of importance to younger users is the attractive and appealing design of cover 100 which acts as a “wetsuit” to their medical inhaler. This is further enhanced by the ability to easily manufacture cover 100 in a vast range of different appearances. This ensures a greater compliance with younger users who are more likely to keep their inhaler about their person.

It will be understood that the term “comprise” and any of its derivatives (eg. comprises, comprising) as used in this specification is to be taken to be inclusive of features to which it refers, and is not meant to exclude the presence of any additional features unless otherwise stated or implied.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement of any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

Although an illustrative embodiment of the present invention has been described in the foregoing detailed description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth and defined by the following claims. 

1. A cover for a medical inhaler, the medical inhaler having a removable canister and a mouthpiece, the cover comprising a substantially tubular portion formed of flexible insulating material and including first and second openings at respective ends of the tubular portion, wherein the tubular portion is sized and shaped to receive the medical inhaler inserted through either the first or second openings of the tubular portion.
 2. The cover of claim 1, wherein the tubular portion is formed of a unitary piece of the flexible insulating material.
 3. The cover of claim 1, wherein the first opening is sized and shaped to allow the canister to be removably inserted into the medical inhaler.
 4. The cover of claim 1, wherein the second opening is angled to conform to the orientation of the mouthpiece of the medical inhaler.
 5. The cover of claim 1, wherein the second opening is sized and shaped to allow a lid be to removably placed on the mouthpiece of the medical inhaler.
 6. The cover of claim 1, wherein the first and/or second openings include an elasticized collar portion.
 7. The cover of claim 1, wherein the cover includes an attachment arrangement for external attachment of the cover.
 8. The cover of claim 7, wherein the attachment arrangement is a loop tag adapted to provide a suitable attachment point for a key ring, lanyard, belt loop or the like.
 9. A method for manufacturing a cover for a medical inhaler comprising: forming a unitary piece of flexible insulating material, the unitary piece having a top edge portion and a bottom cut out portion, the unitary piece further including respective side edge portions; and joining the unitary piece of flexible insulating material along the respective side edge portions to form a substantially tubular portion, wherein the top edge portion corresponds to a first opening of the cover and the bottom cut out portion corresponds to a second opening of the cover, wherein the tubular portion is sized and shaped to receive the medical inhaler inserted through either the first or second openings of the tubular portion.
 10. The method for manufacturing a cover as claimed in claim 9, wherein the respective side edge portions are arranged substantially symmetrical to each other about a mid line extending from the top edge portion to the bottom cut out portion.
 11. The method for manufacturing a cover as claimed in claim 9, wherein the top edge portion and the bottom cut out portion includes an elasticized portion.
 12. The method for manufacturing a cover as claimed in claim 10, wherein the top edge portion and the bottom cut out portion includes an elasticized portion. 